April 10, 1987 —
Newhall Church of the Nazarene under construction at 23857 The Old Road (west side of The Old Road south of Calgrove Boulevard).

Photos by Tony Mason/The Signal.

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Church Plans Fundraiser.

The Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise | Friday, June 28, 1985.

The Church of the Nazarene will hold a yard sale of quality items including paintings, typewriters and sports equipment from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6.

Pastor David Kennedy said the church's building is too small to allow for continued growth and a larger site is needed along with expanded facilities. A Building Fund has been launched and the sale proceeds will be used to further expansion efforts. The church is situated at 24305 Lyons Ave., Newhall.

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Old Folks Home May Replace Church.

The Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise | Sunday, October 27, 1985.

The Regional Planning Commission will hold a public hearing 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, on a request for a conditional use permit (PB 85-134) to replace Newhall Church of the Nazarene and a school with a two-story, 90-room adult board-and-care building. The property is located at 24305 Lyons Ave., Newhall. A report will be available beginning Nov. 2 at Newhall Library, 22704 W. Ninth St., Newhall, and the Department of Regional Planning branch office at 23757 W. Valencia Blvd., Valencia. For information one may call Paul Bickner at (213) 974-6446.

Today (2019) the Lyons Avenue property is home to Pacifica Senior Living. The new, 52,194-square-foot building was completed in 1988.

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[Crime Blotter.]

The Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise | April 5, 1987.

Nighttime raiders hit a Newhall construction site twice within two days this week, removing $8,800 in plywood.

The Church of the Nazarene construction site on The Old Road was first visited by lumber thieves early Monday morning, when 1,000 plywood sheets were taken. Another 100 sheets were stolen from the unfenced lot at 2:15 Wednesday morning.

Two workmen sleeping in a camper at the construction site reported seeing a man on foot, a dark green panel van, and another van in the vicinity on Wednesday.

One of the workmen said a Sheriff's patrol car quickly responded but the van's driver and the man on foot both evaded capture.

Both vans were last seen speeding north on The Old Road toward Calgrove Boulevard.

A workman said night lighting and security fencing has now been installed at the construction site.

"We're from out of the area and didn't realize this was such a high crime area," said the man.

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New Church to be Dedicated.

The Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise | Friday, January 22, 1988.

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New church facilities for the Church of the Nazarene in Newhall will be dedicated in a special service at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

All former pastors in the 27-year history of the church have been invited to attend the service in the new church, 23857 The Old Road.

The church was started by Rev. Dan Alger in his Peachland Ave. home.

The succeeding pastors were Rev. Bob Shearer from 1968 to 1969, Rev. Charles Snelling from 1970 to 1971, Rev. Bernard Hertel from 1971 to 1975, Rev. Steve Seelig from 1976 to 1979, and Rev. Douglas Brumbaugh from 1979 to 1984.

The present pastor, Rev. David Kennedy, and the District Superintendent, Dr. Paul Benefiel, will officiate at the dedication service.

From Rev. Alger's home, the church moved to 24305 Lyons Ave., Newhall. When that location was sold in 1986, the congregation raised funds to construct the new building.

The theme of the service will be from Isaiah 43:19. "See, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

For more information about the church, one may call 259-5272.

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[Excerpt.]

By Jay Harn, City Editor.

The Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise | February 14, 1988.

The Newhall Church of the Nazarene recently moved into a brand new building off Interstate 5 near Calgrove.

The church has been in the valley since 1961. Its congregation decided several years ago that it needed a new, much larger building than the former one on Lyons Avenue as more and more people moved into the valley. The church's property was put up for sale in January of 1985, and in February 1986 it closed escrow. The property was sold for $600,000, helping to pay more than half the price of the new, much larger structure.

"God has really blessed us," Pastor David Kennedy said.

The new building will handle more than 700 people. The congregation currently numbers approximately 125 and will almost definitely double in the next couple years, according to Kennedy.

But because the congregation had to meet in a temporary location for more than a year, 125 members really doesn't reflect the true size of the congregation. The new church was dedicated on Sunday, Jan. 24.

"The number of churches in this valley could easily double in the next few years. There is plenty of need. The only problem is land. I think it's (the lack of affordable land) a tremendous restriction.

"Community developers used to go out of their way to specify spots for churches. Now the dollar seems more important than 'whole' communities. Churches are the salt that preserves society. People don't want to move into areas that have no churches," Kennedy said.

Newhall Church of the Nazarene (NewNaz) began in the Santa Clarita Valley in a retired pastor's home on Peachland Ave. in 1957. Several years later in 1961, Rev. Dan Alger was called to lead the congregation and the church was incorporated. The property on Lyons Ave. was purchased and the church building was built.

In 1984, Rev. David Kennedy and the church board strongly believed if the church wanted continued growth, a larger facility was required. Unable to purchase property adjacent to the existing facility, it was sold and 10 acres were purchased on The Old Road (where the church is now located). During this transition and construction, the church met in a storefront on Lyons Ave. In 1987, the congregation was able to move, debt free, to the beautiful sanctuary where we now worship. From 1987 to '93, the church grew and a part time youth pastor and part time music director was added to the staff.

Rev. Greg Garman came to the church in 1993 and the church grew to a congregation of 250-280. To accommodate church gatherings of larger sizes, a building campaign was begun to construct the Family Life Center that would consist of a gym, kitchen, fellowship hall, classrooms, and offices. The project was split into two phases. Phase 1, the gym and locker rooms, was completed in 2007.

After 22 years leading this congregation, Pastor Greg left to become the Los Angeles District Superintendent in 2015, and Rev. Josh Johnson became the NewNaz Senior Pastor in February 2016. The staff has increased to include two full time associates — Community Life Pastor and Youth Pastor — as well as a part time Music Director.

NewNaz is committed to reaching out to all, included the unchurched and engaging those who have stepped away from "church" by helping them find the hope and love of Jesus.